Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. Freud's theories and techniques have had a major influence on Western thought and have been highly controversial.
One of Freud's major contributions to psychology was his theory of human development, also known as psychoanalytic theory. According to Freud, human development is a continuous process that begins in infancy and continues throughout an individual's lifetime. He believed that the human psyche, or mind, is made up of three parts: the id, ego, and superego.
The id is the most primitive and instinctual part of the psyche. It is driven by the pleasure principle, which means that it seeks immediate gratification of its basic needs and desires. The ego is the rational, logical part of the psyche that mediates between the demands of the id and the demands of the external world. It is driven by the reality principle, which means that it seeks to find ways to satisfy the demands of the id in a realistic and socially acceptable way. Finally, the superego is the moral component of the psyche that represents an individual's sense of right and wrong. It is driven by the ideal principle, which means that it strives to live up to an idealized moral standard.
According to Freud, human development occurs through a series of stages that are characterized by the dominant concerns of the individual at each stage. These stages are known as the oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital stages.
During the oral stage, which occurs from birth to about 18 months, an infant's primary source of pleasure is through the mouth, including sucking, biting, and chewing. If an infant's needs are met consistently and appropriately during this stage, they will develop a healthy oral stage and be able to trust others and feel confident in their abilities to obtain the things they need. If, however, an infant's needs are not met consistently or they are punished for expressing their needs, they may develop an unhealthy oral stage and become overly dependent, aggressive, or distrustful of others.
During the anal stage, which occurs from about 18 months to 3 years, an individual's primary focus is on toilet training and the control of their bodily functions. If an individual is successful in achieving control during this stage, they will develop a healthy sense of independence and self-control. If, however, they are punished or have their autonomy denied during this stage, they may develop a sense of shame or anger about their bodily functions.
During the phallic stage, which occurs from about 3 to 6 years, an individual becomes aware of the differences between males and females and begins to develop a sexual identity. This is also the stage during which the Oedipus complex, a psychoanalytic theory that explains the child's feelings of desire for their opposite-sex parent and jealousy and rivalry with their same-sex parent, occurs. If an individual is able to resolve their Oedipus complex, they will be able to form healthy relationships with others of the opposite sex. If they are unable to resolve their Oedipus complex, they may develop neurotic conflicts and have difficulty in their relationships.
The latent stage, which occurs from about 6 to puberty, is a time of relative calm in which an individual's libido (sexual energy) is dormant. During this stage, an individual's focus is on developing social skills and learning new things.
Finally, during the genital stage, which occurs from puberty onward, an individual's libido becomes rekindled and they begin to focus on establishing intimate relationships with others. If an individual has successfully navigated the earlier stages of development, they
